November 7, 2022 at 12:02 p.m.
Municipal clerks share perspectives on election process
Municipal clerks share perspectives on election process
By Trevor Greene-
The WEC is a bipartisan entity helping to coordinate and guide elections. Though it was created under Republican Gov. Scott Walker, many Republicans criticize it, alleging it has a left-leaning bias. Though the WEC has filled the headlines - most recently with a guidance mishap - the people who actually deal with disgruntled and skeptical voters face-to-face are the municipal clerks.
This added pressure for clerks comes at a time when their election workloads seem to become more extensive each and every year.
Newbold town clerk Kim Gauthier said running an election is similar to planning a wedding.
"When it's close to election day, I'm like let's just get on with it," she said. "It's a big undertaking for all clerks."
Gauthier, who has worked on numerous elections in her 12 years as a clerk, said there's been some exciting times. She mentioned on the 2011 governor's election which included an attempted recall. The 2020 election was unlike anything she's ever seen, she added.
Minocqua town clerk Roben Haggart, who has been a clerk for 23 years, agreed that elections are a lot of work.
"The ballots for this election have to be out 45 days in advance," she said. "And you know every election there seems to be different rules and different changes ... there's been a lot of changes, from coming in, opening up the poll book and signing your name."
Oneida County clerk Tracy Hartman, who also serves as Crescent's clerk, explained that elections really require six to eight months of preparation followed by "a couple of weeks to close the elections out."
Towns including Minocqua and Newbold were seeing large amounts of people casting absentee ballots ahead of the Nov. 8 election.
Boulder Junction town clerk Dan Driscoll said absentee ballots are "pretty laborious."
Speaking to changes in guidance from the WEC, Driscoll said a clerk is not allowed to fill in missing information on an absentee ballot envelope like they were able to do in the past.
Another part of the election process which has drawn a lot of controversial attention is the use of Dominion voting machines.
All municipalities in both Oneida and Vilas counties utilize the machines.
Clerks are required to have their town's equipment inspected by election workers at the county level beforehand.
"On election day ... definitely since the 2020 November election ... my poll workers hear comments about the machines and get comments of 'How do I know my vote is counting?'" Hartman said. "Likewise, I think our town clerks have tried really hard to educate people on the audits that go into the elections (and) security processes that are in place to help voters, I hope, feel comfortable."
Both Hartman and Vilas County clerk Kim Olkowski said they hadn't heard of any threats made towards poll workers or town clerks. Hartman did say she has heard of towns having "very angry voters," especially when they see the name Dominion on the machine.
Newbold, which is the only town in Oneida County to have two polling locations, had around 2,000 registered voters in the Aug. 9 primary. Gauthier reflected on the differences she's seen recently compared to past elections.
"Especially 2020 in the atmosphere really strongly where it was more serious, where people were just getting in and getting out," she said. "There wasn't the community socialization like you usually see at an election. Although, the elections we just had in the 2022 spring elections and the August primary (some lingered) like in the parking lot, talking to their neighbors."
Olkowski, who has worked in the Vilas County clerk's office for more than a decade, said elections have definitely become more of a topic of discussion in every day life.
"People are more apt to think there is more fraud," she said. "It's really hard for clerks currently. It's a lot of heat, it's a lot of stress, there's a lot of pressure put on them."
Longtime Plum Lake town clerk Sharon Brooker stepped down in June, citing the high levels of stress which generally came with being a clerk.
Plum Lake's interim clerk Bob Klager said the workload mixed with added pressures, for him, "have almost become overwhelming."
In terms of what the future holds for clerks, Haggart said it could be an issue for younger generations to take over.
"It's a lot of work," she said. "I think ... if we don't get this whole party thing figured out, elections are such a hot topic. I don't think people will want to do it. Why would you want to be criticized and questioned? And you know, people questioning your integrity thinking you're doing something you shouldn't be doing when we're not. So, yeah I guess it could wear on somebody after a while."
Haggart did say she was proud to be a clerk. She listed multiple examples of positive things she is able to do for the town, such as balancing its checkbook.
Overall, from Newbold to Boulder Junction, each clerk said they would be more than willing to walk anyone who may have their doubts through the voting process.
"I think as clerks we have so many different things (to do) but I consider voting probably the top of the list," Driscoll said. "People fought for this, it's their freedom. In my mind, this is the most important thing I do as a clerk."
Trevor Greene may be reached via email at trevorgreene@lakelandtimes.com.
Comments:
You must login to comment.